A Message from DIDSS at Christmas
by CEO Barry Guidera
"2011 was a significant year for DIDSS; we experienced a number of events that had an impact on our organisation. In February members of the board, staff and regional committees met in Melbourne for a planning day, and in March we launched a new website which will continue to improve. In July we entered a new era when we were funded by the Federal Government’s Family Support Program for a three year period, giving us a solid base and some long term assurance.
National interest in the plight of dads in distress was sparked during May when the Sydney Harbour Bridge was scaled, and we have continued to attract positive interest from the media. One of our main challenges is to build a reputation and image that prompts people to automatically call us when experiencing separation anxieties.
The work we do can’t be achieved without the efforts of our volunteer network, and we are extremely grateful for the efforts of those that commit to running or assisting a group, taking calls on the 1300 Help Line, meeting and helping clients or helping out with administration duties. Head Office has been a hive of activity this year with many people volunteering their time to help on a number of different projects and ‘behind the scenes’ work that keeps the organisation running smoothly. I would like to acknowledge the hard work done by our staff – Laurence, Phil, Alan, Mac and Jeff who are at the forefront, helping thousands of men by sharing their experiences and giving them some hope and guidance.
As the year closes we have commenced an extensive Strategic Planning Process that will give us some clear direction about what we do, and what we hope to achieve in the future. The strong board we have is committed to this process and I thank them for all their efforts during 2011 – particularly our chairman Dean Mason who has put in a huge amount of time.
I wish you all an enjoyable Christmas and prosperous New Year, and I hope you can spend some quality time with your children over the holiday period.
Yours sincerely,
Barry
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What to do if recently separated:
1
Contact DIDSS on 1300 853 437 to get linked
into local supports and resources.
2
Keep a diary Jot down advice, contacts, decisions,
questions, issues, conversations.
3
Stay calm. Emotions can lead you to make rash decisions.
Keep a clear head to plan ahead.
4
Meet your obligations. Do what you can to maintain
your routine and get bills paid on time.
5
Look after yourself. Your kids need you to eat right,
sleep well, excercise, talk and stay positive.
6
Make the most of any contact. It may not be much
at first, but your kids will love it regardless.
7
Work towards a working relationship. Be patient and do
whatever you can to get on with your children’s mum, for their sake.
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